DOL has issued a Request for Information (RFI) as it considers adding STEM and other non-STEM occupations experiencing labor shortages to Schedule A. We encourage clients and other interested parties to submit comments prior to the deadline of May 13, 2024.
As background, Schedule A is a set of occupations exempt from a labor certification application during the employment-based permanent residence process. For example, right now, employers who sponsor registered nurses, physical therapists, and certain exceptional ability individuals can file an I-140 petition without first testing the labor market. With labor certification applications taking more than one year, expanding Schedule A will save companies valuable time and resources. This is a rare opportunity to advocate for your company to streamline the process.
To submit a response, please follow these steps:
Go to the Federal eRulemaking Portal at https://www.regulations.gov/commenton/ETA-2023-0006-0052
Type your response, including the docket number ETA–2023–0006 in your comment.
Here are a few recommendations for submitting a comment:
Introduce yourself, your industry, and a description of the products or services your company provides. These are public comments, so if you do not want to include your name, you can submit an anonymous comment and include the role that you have, such as business owner, HR professional, recruiter, etc.
Explain the occupations that are difficult to fill in your organization.
Explain how expanding the Schedule A occupations will help your organization meet those needs.
Note that all comments received will be posted without change. Please do not include any personally identifiable or confidential business information.
For more information, please click this link: https://www.regulations.gov/document/ETA-2023-0006-0052 and contact us if you have any questions.